“Just looking at Joel Embiid out there with the lights on his jersey. I was like, ‘man, I’m actually here.'”

Sixers coach Brett Brown was thoroughly impressed with Simmons’ debut effort, pointing out that the Aussie had just one turnover in 35 minutes of playing time.

“How about Ben Simmons’ first game in the NBA?” Brown said.”Really, there were times he could have finished even more. I feel that his first game was really exceptional. Really, really exceptional. Physically, we all see what he is as an athlete, and I think that his growth path, his improvement scale, can be off the charts.”